Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, a manufacturer of textile glass fiber in Europe and the Americas, is planning to increase its production capacities in 2014. As a result of its rising sales in 2013, the company says it will carry out a major expansion of one of its two furnaces at the Litomysl plant in Czech Republic. The furnace will be adapted for the higher-performing Vetrotex technology, which will allow a capacity increase of 8,000 tons per year. In recent years, Vetrotex has taken advantage of each scheduled overhaul of its furnaces to bring the technology up to the highest level, standardize it between the different plants, and increase furnace output. The Litomysl furnace, which was initially built based on a different licensed technology, will be modernized using the latest Vetrotex technology.

"This investment allows us to fulfill our clients' wish to obtain textile glass fiber locally from a partner that has an in-depth understanding of the industry. It is essential to show our flexibility and responsiveness in the face of ever-more-volatile demand," says Raimund Heinl, president of the company. "By reinforcing our own presence and competitiveness, we contribute to our clients' growth."